The Springfield City Council gave what appears to be the final greenlight to a major reconstruction of the X intersection in Forest Park at its meeting this past Monday. The approval for takings and underlying funding was not without its fireworks, though. Some councilors objected to the items appearing on the agenda only to have their arms’ twisted to deliver prompt action.
This week, James Leydon left the Hampden District Attorney’s office after nearly nine years as its public affairs director. Leydon held one of the few major government spokesperson positions in the region amid upheaval in media itself.
On Monday, Springfield city councilors will consider a negotiated contract with the Springfield Police Supervisors Association (SPSA)—a contrast from the terms a state panel imposed last year. The new pact ostensibly addresses inadequacies both city officials and the supervisors had identified in the arbitration award.
Over the summer, Ward 1 committee member Gustavo Romero and Ward 4 member Gloria Roca-Cabellero resigned. Per the city charter, a Joint Session of the rump of the School Committee and the City Council join forces to vote on replacements. On Tuesday, they chose former Ward 1 City Councilor Gladys Lebron-Martinez and Orlando Isaza for the Ward 1 and 4 Committees seats, respectively.
With primary season concluding early this month, attention is now turning to the general election in Massachusetts. Some contests do not even feature candidates from both major parties. One exception is the 4th Hampden House district, where the Democratic challenger has quietly outraised the GOP incumbent.
SPRINGFIELD—Returning from its summer slowdown that comes every August, the City Council confronted a phalanx of financial and property orders that made for a hefty agenda. However, a different kind of hefty may have defined the most compelling and complicated issue was before councilors on
Springfield’s longest-serving mayor, Domenic Sarno, is said to have seen Tom Menino as a model. He ostensibly envied the power, both official and political, the Hub’s former ruler wielded. Yet, in last week’s Democratic primary, a year on from the tightest mayoral prelim Sarno ever faced, he has shown himself no threat to his enemies.
With less than four months until this Congress expires and two months before voters choose who will rule the next one, Democrats are reorganizing their side of the House Ways & Means Committee. This comes after the passing of a long-serving member, New Jersey Congressman Bill Pascrell.
At least everybody knows what to do.
Earlier this year, a Joint Session of the Holyoke City Council and School Committee filled the latter’s vacant at-large seat. Now, the Paper City band that fills the school board’s vacancies is getting back together to fill the two ward School Committee seats.
SPRINGFIELD—After a race that veered into mendacity and nastiness at its climax, Democratic State Senator Adam Gomez bulldozed primary challenger Ward 4 Councilor Malo Brown to again secure his party’s nomination for the Hampden Senate District. Brown’s boss, State Representative Bud Williams, fared better.
